Wajhinqton



(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

W. HURST. MACHINE FOR OPENING COTTON.

No. 510,642. Patented D e. 12, 1893;

(No Model.)

4 Sheets -Sheef 2.

W HURST MACHINE FOR OPENING GOTTON.

Patented Dec. 12, 1893.

(No Model.) I 4 Sheets-Sheet- 3.

W. HURST.

MACHINE FOR OPENING GOTTON. No. 510,642. Patented D60. 12, 1893.

(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. HURST. MACHINE FOR OPENINGCOTTON. No. 510,642. Patented De0. 12, 1893.

%Z7Z&PJW P:- I Q llawz zzpza MW n NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

\VILLIAM HURST, OF ROCHDALE, ENGLAND.

MACHINE FOR OPENING COTTON.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,642, dated December 12, 1893. Application filed February 29,1892. Serial No. 423,292. (life model.) Patented in England A ril 13) 1889,110- 6,327

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HURST, of Rochdale, in the countyof Lancaster, Engand, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Machines for Opening Gotton and Used in the Preparation of Cotton and other Fibrous Materials, (for which I have obtained Letters Patent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 6,327, dated April 13, 1889,) of which'the following is a specification.

My invention relates to the machines known as scutchers or lap machines and used in preparing cotton and other fibrous materials and relates more particularly to the gratings or grids placed longitudinally, diagonally, cross-wise or in any other position between the boaters and the cages, and intended to allow of the escape from the cotton or other fibrous material of short fiber, motes and other refuse such as sand and fiy mixed with such cotton and other fibrous materials while at the same time preventing the escape of cotton or other fibrous material.

The object of my invention is to render scutchers or lap machines more efficient in cleaning and freeing from the short fiber, motes and other refuse such as sand and fly present therein the cotton or other.

stream of cotton or other fibrous material passing over such bars or grids and also by so vibrating or oscillating greatly facilitate the falling'awa'yof the short fiber, motes and other refuse from the said bars on the opening or lowering ofthe doors beneath such bars, and partly in arrangements by which I am enabled toalter, the positions of the bars or grids of the said gratings or grids so. that such bars or grids may be in such position as may be most effective in producing a cleaning effect upon the cotton or other fibrous gratings or grids constructed in the manner.

hitherto customary are formed above the gratin'gsor grids near to the cages of such machines and pass from time to time into or uponthe surface of the stream of cotton or other-fibrous material passing to the cages and so cause irregularity and adirty appearance in the laps produced by the machines.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical section of a portion of a soutcher or lap machine sufficient to indicate the part thereof to which my invention refers,and Fig. 2 is a plan of part of that which is shown in Fig. 1, Figs. 1 and 2 showing at A the beater, at B the cage, and at O the gratings or grids to which my invention relates and over which the cotton or other fibrous material passes from the beater A to the cage 13. Fig. 3 is a plan and Fig. 4 a sectional view of the grating or grid. Fig. 5 is a view looking in the direction from D to E in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 6 is a view-looking in the direction from--D to F in Figs. 3 and 4. Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 5 but shows certain parts in a changed position. Fig. 8-is similar to Fig. 6 but shows certain parts in a changed position. Fig. 9 isan elevation showing arrangements by? means of which certain parts are raised and-lowered. Fig. 10 shows certain parts in the positions which they occupy when raised. Fig. 11 shows arrangements for operating certain parts. Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18 show certain parts detached. Fig. 19 is a section generally similar to Fig. 4 but serving to indicate an expedient which is necessary in some cases andFi gs. 20, 21 and 22 are diagrammatic trans-' verse sections serving to more fully indicate the manner in which my invention applied. Y

The same letters of reference areapplied to corresponding parts throughout the whole se-' roo ries of figures.

The grating or grid C I form of bars on plates a of metal, wood or other suitable ma-.

may be terial but preferably of steel and it is to these bars or plates c to which my invention first relates.

Hitherto the bars or plates employed in the gratings or grids employed in scutchers or lap machines have been formed of cast metal or other thick materials and consequently such bars or plates have been too rigid to vibrate or oscillate in such manner as to aid the passage of the motes, seeds or dirt or other matter down between the plates or bars of the grids or gratings.

According to myinvention I form the bars or plates at of thin sheet metal so that they may be sufficiently flexible to readily vibrate and I have found plates or bars a of a thickness of about one seventeenth of an inch to be very suitable for the purpose of my invention but plates or bars a little thinner or a little thicker may be employed according as the gratings or grids O are made of less or greater length. The bars or plates at are each provided at one end with a projecting part a which resting in a bearing consisting of a notch 1) formed in a bar 1) extending across the machine supports the said end of the said bar or plate a and the other end of each of the said bars or plates a is provided with a projecting part (L which projects into a hearing consisting of a hole '0 formed in a bar 0 extending across the machine and supporting by means of the said part a the said end of the bar or plate a. The part a being free to turn in the holec' into which it projects and the part a resting by a comparatively thin edge upon a comparatively small surface of the bar upon which it rests each plate or bar a is very free to oscillate upon the parts by which it is supported and being made of thin metal is very free to vibrate within itself and the vibration of such bars or plates a due to the working of the machine will very greatly facilitate the passage of motes or seeds or dirt or other refuse down between the plates or bars a and thus the efficiency of the machine in cleaning the cotton or other fibrous material is greatly increased. Instead of being supported by projecting parts a passinginto notches b'and projecting parts a passing into notches or holes 0 the plates or bars a may be supported at either or both ends by their ends being simply placed in bearings consisting of notches in which the said bars or plates a may oscillate.

It is found in practice that with grids or gratings as hitherto employed in scutchers or lap machines the motes, fly or short fiber and other refuse separated from the cotton or other fibrous material and deposited be tween the plates or bars of the said grids or gratings have a tendency to sometimes be disturbed and carried forward with the cotton or other fibrous material passing over the grids or gratings and thus to cause streaks or blemishes in the lap produced by the scutcher or lap machine and thus to some extent nullify the effect of the machine upon the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon. To obviate this defect I form or provide in each of said bars or plates an opening or openings consisting of a notch, perforation or slot, or notches, perforations or slots a of any size and shape and placed in any position as indicated in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18, Fig. 12 illustratinga bar or plate formed with a notch a Figs. 13 and 14 a bar or plate formed with notches a ,Fig. 15 a bar or plate formed with perforations a Fig. 16 a bar or plate formed with a slot (6 Fig. 17 a bar or plate formed with an opening a and Fig. 18 a bar or plate formed with inclined slots d.

hen the scutcher or lap machine is at work the motes, sand and fly, short fiber or other refuse removed or escaping from the cotton or other fibrous material be ing operated upon and passing down between the bars or plates aof which the grating or grid employed in the scutcher or lap machine consists will become engaged with the notches, perforations, or slots a formed in the said bars or plates and so be secured against again passing into or into contact with the cotton or other fibrous material while at the same time the said motes, sand, fly, short fiber or other refuse are or is free to pass down between the said bars or plates at and to fall away from such bars or plates when the door beneath them is opened or lowered for the purpose of emptying the grids or gratings.

It is obvious that bars or plates a of any of the forms indicated in Figs. 4, 12, l3, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 may be combined in any manner and in any desired number in one grid or grating but a very advantageous combination is obtained by placing bars or plates such as are shown in Fig. 13 alternately side by side with bars or plates such as are shown in Fig. 14 as in such combination the notches a in one bar or plate will not be opposite to the notches a in the adjacent bar or plate or bars or plates but will be intermediate such notches a Thus notches a are very uniformly distributed over the entire grating or grid formed by the bars or plates.

Myinvention also consists in arrangements by which I am enabled'to raise or lower certain of the bars or plates of the gratings or grids of scutchers or lap machines in relation to the other bars or plates of such gratings or grids so that the said bars or plates may be in such position as may be most effective for operating upon the cotton orother fibrous material. For this purpose besides the cross bars cl e, which are secured by means of bolts to the side frames f of the machine I provide bars I) g c h j which I will now proceed to more fully describe. is placed against the cross plate (2 which is ordinarily employed in scutchers or lap machines. Secured to the cross bar cl by screws 01 one only of which is shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is a barb and between the bar I) and The cross bar j l cross bar 61 I place abar g. In the upper edge of the bar I) I form notches b in which at times rest the projecting ends a of the plates or bars a whichare adjacent to the cross-bar d. In the upper edge of the bar g I form notches g into which pass projecting parts a formed on the ends a of the plates or bars Ct before mentioned. Certain of the notches g are of one depth but every alternate notch is formed deeper than the notches alternate therewith. I form on the cross bar d ribs d d situate between which is a bar is capable of being slid longitudinally between the ribs d 01 I form in the bar is inclines shown in Figs. 9 and 10 which inclines k are at times situate below inclines g secured to and projecting from the plate g. If the bar It be moved in the direction indicated by the arrow G by means of the handle It? with which it is provided,until the inclines k are in the position in which they are indicated in Fig-1O the inclines It will have acted upon the inclines g and raised the bar 9' so that its upper edge will be raised above the upper edge of the bar I). To the cross-barj by means of screws is secured a bar 0. Between the bar 0 and the cross bar j is a bar It capable of being moved upward and downward between the bar c and cross barj by means of inclines Z formed upon a bar [capable of being slid longitudinally between ribs j, 9' formed on the cross bar 3' which inclines act against inclines it formed upon the bar h. The inclines Z upon the bar land the inclines 72 upon the bar h are similar in construction and operation to the inclines 7c and 9* previously described. I form in the bar 0 a number of holes 0 each alternate hole 0' being elongated in an upward direction.

In the bar it I form a number of holes h the alternate holes h being elongated in a downward direction. The elongated holes h in the bar h are situate behind the round holes 0 in the bar 0. Projecting parts a? formed on .alternate bars. or plates a pass through the elongated holes 0 in the bar o and into the round holes h formed in the bar h and the projectingparts aFformed on. the bars or plates at alternate with those aforesaid and pass through the. round holes a in the bar 0 and into the elongated holes 72, in the bar It. The round holes 0 in the bar 0 are the bearings for the projecting .parts a of those plates or bars a which are not to be lifted and the round holes h of the bar hare the bearings for the projecting parts a of those plates or bars a which are to be lifted; the elongation of theintervening holes 0' and h being only to permit the lifting of the plates or bars a. The notches b in the bar b constitute the bearings .for the projections a of as many of the bars a as are not to be raised and the shallower notches g of the plate g constitute the bearings for the projections of those bars a which are not to be raised.

During the working of the scutcher or lap machine the cotton or other fibrous material passing from the beater A to the cage B will travel over the grating or rid O9 Any motes, seed, dirt or other matter separated from the cotton or other fibrous material will be readily able to pass between the plates or bars a of which the grating or grid 3 is formed, the vibration and oscillation of the plates or bars a assisting the passage of motes, seeds or dirt or other matter down between the plates or bars a.

When the scutcher or lap machine is operating upon cotton or other fibrous material of short staple or comparatively clean the plates or bars a of the grid or grating may be in the position in which they are shown in Figs. 5 and 6 but when the scutcher or lap machine is intended to operate upon cotton or other fibrous material which is more leafy or dirtier the bars 70 and Z are drawn in the directions indicated by the arrows G.

The movement of the bar is in the direction indicated by the arrow G will cause the inclines k to act upon the inclines g and move the bar g into the raised position in which it is shown in Figs. 7 and 10. The rising of the ,bar 9 will cause the ends a of the alternate in Figs. 7 and 8 the fibers of cotton or other fibrous material pass over the upper edges of the raised bars orplates so that greater opportunity is given for short fiber, motes and other refuse to fall from such cotton or other fibrous" material by reason of the increased space between the bars or plates into contact with or upon which the cotton or other fibrous material comes or rests in its passage over the grid or grating of the scutcher or lap machine. When the alternate bars a or plates are in the raised position in which they are shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the short fibers, motes and other refuse separated from the cotton or other fibrous material passing over the said bars or plates a are able to fall more-freely into andthrough the spaces between the raised bars or plates a and the bars or plates at not raised and are consequentlyless liable to again come intocontact with the cotton or other fibrous material passing over the bars or plates at. The vibration of the raised bars or plates (1 and the bars or plates'not raised assists the passage of short fiber, motes and other refuse down between such bars or plates and also assists in preventing the cotton or other fibrous material passing over the said bars or plates to from adhering to such bars orplates.

Instead of being placed in the direction of the length of the scutcher or lap machine arrangement of some of the parts already existing itis not possible to employ in its entirety the arrangement illustrated in the ac companying drawings; for instance in some cases I have been compelled in order to avoid extensive alteration of the existing machine to which I have been applying my invention to dispense with the sliding bar Z and plate j and employ simple bolts and slots to secure the plates 0 and h in position as indicated in Fig. 19 of the accompanying drawings and vary the positions of the bars or plates at by making adjustments by hand from time to time as has been necessary. In other machines it might be necessary to in like manner dispense with the cross-bar cl and bar or dispense with the plates j and cross-bar d as Well as both of the bars Z and 76 as is also indicated in Fig. 19 of the accompanying drawings. Thus it is obvious that in order to meet the various circumstances which may occur in practice the alternate bars or plates a of the grid or grating C may be raised by means other than those above described and that instead of the alternate bars or plates at being raised a similar result may be brought about by the alternate bars or plates being lowered and that instead of the alternate bars or plates at being raised or lowered, every third or fourth bar or plate a may be raised or lowered or the bars or platesa raised or lowered may bear any other suitable relation in number and position to the bars or plates at which are not raised or lowered. These slight variations in the use of my invention are clearly indicated in Figs. 20, 21 and 22 of the accompanying drawings in which the line X X indicates the position of the upper edge of the part of each bar or plate acut by the plane on which the sections are made when all the bars or plates or shown in each of such figures are put at one level. Fig. 20 thus serves to indicate how the alternate bars or plates or may be lowered instead of being raised in relation to the other bars or plates a. Fig. 21 indicates how every third bar or plate a instead of every alternate bar or plate a may be raised in relation to the other bars or plates at and Fig. 22 indicates how every third bar or plate a may be lowered in relation to the other bars or plates at. It is also obvious that the plates or bars may be either of the form shown in Fig. 4: or of any of the forms shown in or described in reference to Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 and that the bars or plates Ct formed of vided with notches, perforations or slotsa as indicated in Figs. 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and 18 may be employedin scutchers or lap-ma chines in which no means for raising or lowering the alternate or other bars or plates are provided and that the arrangements of apparatus hereinbefore described for efiecting the raising and lowering of the alternate or other bars or plates may be applied to raise or lower bars or plates of the kind ordinarily in use in scutchers or lap machines.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In the grid orgratingof a scutcher or lap machine thin flexible metal bars or plates a capable of freely vibrating within themselves without being mechanically moved for the purpose and substantiallyashereinbefore described.

2. The combination with a scutcher or lap machine of grids or gratings 0 formed of bars or plates a, and provision for setting said bars at the same or at different levels relatively to each other, as and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. In the grid or grating C of a scutcher or lap machine the combination of bars orplates a formed of thin metal, and bearings for the ends of said bars or plates in which said plates or bars are capable of oscillating and vibrating freely and without being mechanically moved, for the purposes and substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.

4. Inthe grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine the combination of bars or plates a formed of thin metal, and bearings for the ends of said plates in which they are capable of oscillating and vibrating freely and with- -out being mechanically moved, said bars or plates a being formed with openings at for preventing short fiber, motes or other refuse separated from the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon from becoming again affixed to or entangled with the said cotton or otherfibrous material, substantially as hereinbetore described.

5. In the grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine the combination with a supporting bar I) having notches in its upper edge and a supporting bar 0 having holes, of bars or plates a each formed of thin metal and having at one end a projecting part a resting in a notch of the bar I) and at the other end with a projecting part a resting in a hole formed in the bar 0 so that such bars or plates may be able to freely vibrate and oscillate without being mechanically moved, substantially as hereinbefore described.

6. In the grating or grid employed in a scutcher or lap machine the combination with a supporting bar I) having notches in its upper edge and a supporting bar 0 having holes, of bars or plates at each formed of thin metal and having at one end a projecting part (1. restlng in a notch of the bar I) and at the other end. a projecting part a resting in a hole of the bar c so that such bars or platesa may be able to freely vibrate and oscillate, each of said bars a being formed with openings a adapted to prevent short fiber, motes or other refuse once separated from the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon from becoming again affixed to or entangled with the said cotton or other fibrous material substantially in the manner hereinbefore described.

7. In the grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine bars or plates formed with openings a to prevent short fiber, motes and other refuse once separated from the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon from becomingagain affixed to or entangled with the said cotton or other fibrous material.

8. In the grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine the combination with bars or plates a having openings a to prevent short fiber, motes and other refuse once separated from the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon from becoming again affixed to or entangled with the said cotton or other fibrous material, of provision for setting such bars or plates a at the same level or at different levels relatively to each other as may be required substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

9. In the grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine the combination of supporting bars I) 0, thin metal bars or plates a having projecting parts a a resting and free to oscillate in bearings in said supporting bars, and provision for setting said bars or plates a at the same or at different levels relatively to each other, all substantially as set forth.

10. In the grid or grating of a scutcher or lap machine the combination with supporting bars 12 c, of thinmetal bars or plates a having projecting parts a a resting and free to oscillate in bearings formed in the said supporting bars and having openings at to prevent short fiber motes and other refuse once separated from the cotton or other fibrous material being operated upon from becoming again affixedto or entangled with the said cotton or other fibrous material, and provision 11. The combinationof the metal bars-a having projections a a at their ends, two sets of supporting bars b c and g it one set containing bearings for the said projections on certain of said plates or bars a, and the other set containing bearings for the said projections on others of said plates or bars and means of changing the level of one set of supporting bars, substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

12.The combination of the metal bars or plates a having projections a a at their ends, two sets of supporting bars I) c and g h one set containing bearings for the said projections on certain of said plates or bars a and the other set containing bearings for the said projections on others of the said plates or bars and one set having inclines g and h and sliding bars 10 and Z having inclines lo Z corresponding with those g k on the supporting bars, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth.

13. The combination of the metal bars or plates a having projections a a at their ends, \two supporting bars I) 9 one ,having notches b for the reception of the projections a at one end of said bars or plates ,a and the other having notches g of different depths for the reception of said projections a, two supporting bars 0 it having respectively holes o and it some of which are round and others elongated for the reception of the projections a at the opposite end of said plates or bars a and the said bars gand htbeing provided with inclines g h and sliding bars kand- Zhaving inclines 70' Z corresponding with those 9 h? on the bars 9 h, all substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth,

WILLIAM HURST.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR C. HALL,

9 Main St, Manchester. HOWARD CHEETHAM,

.18 St. Anns Street, Manchester. 

